British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Common Eagle Ray - definition

Translation:

Hello! I'm here in Falmouth, in Cornwall and today I want to tell you about a creature called the Common Eagle Ray. They aren't found in the UK, but where they are found (and they are rare) is in the Mediterranean Sea. With fins extending out from the body, the Common Eagle Ray looks like a bird. Whilst they are short, with large fins they move like an eagle through the water - hence the name. The Common Eagle Ray's diamond shaped body is black/grey/olive green in colour on the top, dorsal side, whilst the ventral side is a lighter grey - this colouration helps camouflage them in the sand. This leads me on to tell you about where they are found in the sea, which is at depths of between 100 and 500m. Commonly found in the sand near the coastline in both shallow and deep water, Common Eagle Rays are known for the venom in their whip-like tail which can deliver a nasty sting and so care is needed when around them! These rays are critically endangered, globally - they are often part of the bi-catch from trawler fishing and have suffered increasing loss of habitat. One special thing about Common Eagle Rays is that they are 'Ovoviviparous', which means they give birth to live babies with their eggs hatching inside the mother!